Water meter



Nov. 16, 1937.

E. NUEBLING WATER METER Filed March 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

E. NUEBLING Nov. 16, 1937.

.WATER METER Filed March 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 uw om IN1/EN ToR. Earl/,9,20 /VafL v6 ATTORNEYS.

NOV. 16, 1937. NUEBLING 2,099,139

WATER METER Filed March 22,- 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www NVENTUR.

50M/@e0 M0551 /NG fm vt/M A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 16, 1937. E. NUEBLING 2,099,139

WATER METER Filed Marsh 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS. ,l

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE4 WATER METER Edward Nuebling, New York, N. Y. Application March 22, 1935, Serial No. 12,1372' 3 Claims.

The invention relates to water meters and more particularly to that type thereof commonly referred to as fire-service meters'adapted to measurethe quantity of Water supplied to sprinklers and other systems intended to be used for the extinguishing of res. Although water may rarely be required for the purpose of extinguishing fires, experience nevertheless has demonstrated that if a fire-service supply is not metered, leakage and improper use, with few exceptions, result in large and material losses.

In order that all flows likely to pass through a meter of the indicated type may be'properly measured, it is essential that the meter operate accurately over a wide range in the rates of flow. Furthermore, when during fire emergencies or for other reasons the fire-service system is required to deliver large quantities of water for fire fighting or other purposes, it is essential that the meter permit a free and maximum ow of water through it without obstruction and without appreciable loss of pressure head.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved meter of the indicated class which will function with maximum accuracy at all rates of flow through the meter.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a meter of the type under discussion which is `of simple and durable construction, capable of being sold at relatively low cost and of withstanding long periods of service without frequent attention, adjustments or repairs.

Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a. sectional elevation of one form of the novel meter; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with parts in section; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. Il; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional eevation on an enlarged scale showing the measuring apparatus forming part of the meter; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 1 1 of Fig, 6; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of another form lof the invention; and Fig. 10 is a diagram' showing the registration corresponding to different rates of iow through the novel meter.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the meter includes a casing preferably consisting of an inlet section I5 'provided with a ilan'ged inlet I6 adapted for connection with a conduit leading to a source of supply, and `an outlet section I1 terminating in a Iianged outlet Il arranged to be y (Cl. 'I3-203) connected with an outlet pipe in which a control valve may be located in the customary manner; the casing sections I5 and I1 are connected with each other at their opposed anged ends in any convenient manner as by means of bolts or the like I9. The sections I5 and II are preferably of cylindrical shape and of dimensions suitable to the' purpose for which they are designed. The inlet section I5 is provided with an internal partition MI4 having an aperture in which the one end of a throat-piece 2I is suitably mounted, said throat-piece extending through suitable openings in the opposed ends of the sections I5 and Il and serving to connect the inlet chamber I5EL of the section I5 with the outlet chamber I'la of the section Il. 'I'he throat-piece as shown is provided with an internal axial passage 2la and with by-pass channels 22 which preferably are located exteriorly about said passage 2la and establish communication between a passage 23 formedby the partition in the section I5 and the outlet chamber I'I of the section I1, as illustrated. The throat-piece 2l further includes an outwardly directed passage 238 the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter, and has its right hand end in Fig. 1 formed with a preferably rounded or curved valve seat 24 located in the outlet chamber I'Ia of the section Il.

An annular member 25 provided with slots 26 is accurately tted into .the upwardly projecting portion I5b of the section I5 and rests upon an annual shoulder I5c formed therein; the annular member 25 is iixed in place in any convenient manner as for instance by means of. an upper casing member2`| which itself is secured in position by means of bolts or the like 28. The slotted annular member 25 serves as a screen and a support for the measuring chamber 29 which contains the measuring piston 30; in the fcrm'shown in the drawings the latter is of the well-known nutating disc type, it being understood however that this type of piston 30 may be replaced by any other equivalent means for effecting the desired measuring results. 'Ihe annular slotted member 25 is further' provided with an outlet port 3| which leads to the passage 23 and is provided at its exit end with an oriilce plate 32 provided with an opening 33 of predetermined size and held in place for instance by means of. a collar 34, as shown in Fig. 1, said collar 34 being screwed into or otherwise removably mounted'in the outlet port 3l. A check valve 35 of suitable type is pivotally mounted at 36 upon the collar 34 and is adapted to co-operate with the latter to prevent back ow through the measuring chamber 29.

The upper casing member 21 is lprovided internally with an enclosed chamber 31 in which-is mounted a reduction gearing 3l which is arranged to be operated by the measuring piston 3c sho-wn in Fig. l, and which drives a shaft tu extending vertically through a suitable stuiing box dit externally of the meter and into operative connection with the measuring or totalizing means as illustrated in Fig. 6 whereby the flows passing through themeter are properlymeasurcd. in the illustrated example, as shown best in Fig. 6, the shaft t9 is provided with a attened. reduced end di which engages a driving pin 52 mounted in the projecting end or shaft di?. oi a friction disc dfi. The disc llc is rotatably mounted preierably on ball bearings d and its shaft iti is arranged to rotate in a bushing dii which is preferably made of self-lubricating material such as metalized graphite and is ntted in an upright bearing il mounted within a casing d@ which it= self is fixed in place upon the upper casing member 2l for instance by means oi screws d@ or their equivalent.

The friction disc it is arranged to drive two friction wheels tt and hi mounted respectively upon shafts t2 and 53, the latter being rotatably mounted preferably by means oi conical pivotbearings inposts rdepending from the bottom plates of registers or totalizers ed and E respectively. The shafts 52 and dit are connected by suitable bevel gears 5t and Ell with the actuating `mechanisms of the totalizers tdi and 55 which operate in any customary and well-known manner. The totalizers bil and including the shafts 52 and t3 are free to pivot vertically as independent units about conical pivot bearings 53a and 58 respectively, said pivot bearings tit and 58 being fixed on carriages t@ and @il slidably mounted in horizontal directions on parallel guide rods iii supported by brackets ft2 mounted upon the casing it as illustrated inFig. 6. Leaf springs til iixed upon members @d `and t5 of the carriages t@ and til respectively, bear against the totalizer umts tl and tt and tend to pivotally actuate such totalizer units about the bearings 58 and 53B in directions to press the friction wheels tu and ti into engagement with the upper surface of the friction discll with just sufficient force to keep said friction wheels t@ and ti at all times in proper operative engagement with the disc fifi. To protect the totalizing means and associated elements, a suitable cover tit is re movably xed upon the casing de in any' convenient manner for instance by means of screws tta, said cover et being provided with sight openings closed by glass or other transparent sections ti in vertical registry with the totaliners Sil and 5t.

With the arrangement illustrated and described it is obvious that any movement ci the meter piston di? will be transmitted throughthe systems of gears and co-operating parts tothe totalizers M and 55. In operation the meter piston .tu displaces or` carries over a xed quantity of liquid during each revolution, which movements of the piston t@ are translated by the aforesaid systems of gearing and cooperatingelements into convenient units of measurement indicated by the totalizing means or mechanism such as cubic feet or gallons. The totalizlng means or mechanism will indicate a true measurement of flow only when the meter has been properly calibrated by suitable gear adjustment.

Because oi tolerance allowed in machinery, no two meters are exactly aliire and the aforesaid adjustment is based on ari-actual test made by passing a quantity of water through the meter, which quantity is measured either by discharging into a tank of known 'capacity or .by weighing the amount of water discharged. In the instant QQQJLS@ construction the required adjustment either to calibrate the meter or to alter the readings oi the totalizing means or mechanism may be readily edected by shifting the friction wheel iid across the face of the disc cli. This may be accomplished by sliding the carriage et toward or away from the center of the disc ifi and then hiring said carriage it@ in its adjusted position on the guide rods iii for instance by means of a set screw 5ta shown in Fig. 7. The purpose of the two totalizers til and 55 and their associated;v elements will be more clearly set forth hereinafter.

The meter further includes the novel duplex valve illustrated in the drawings and shown in detail in Fig. i, which duplex valve overcomes ob desired, may include a weight il. IThe carrier 'iii is mounted upon a support 'i2 hinged upon a horizontal rod i3 suitably fastened in a bearing bracket 'M secured to the throat-piece iii for instance by means `of bolts or the like i5. The nap member tt is adapted to engage the preferably rounded seat v2li of the throat-piece 3i while the lap member E9 is arranged to engage a correspondingly rounded seat it for the purpose ci controlling the ow through the axial pas- .sage di which with the inlet chamber i521 and Aoutlet chamber lla constitutes .the main line channel of the meter, the passage 2 I representing a constricted portion of such main line chanhel. The seat 'it constitutes part of a valve ring il which is adjustably threaded into a partition member. 'it fitted into a recess formed in the upper portion of the casing section i1, said valve ring 'i'i being held in position by bolts '19; the partition member 'iii is fixed in place in the aforesaid recess Vby means of a hood di) mounted upon the aforesaid upper portion of the casing section il! and secured in place thereon by screws or `the like v8i; the interior-of the hood tll'constitutes a compartment a which is separated from the outiet chamber i'l by the partition member i8 and valve lll, .communication between the compartment tile and the outlet chamber HB being controlled by the flap member t@ in cmi-operation `with the valve seat it. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the outwardly directed passage 23B connests the main line channel 2i with the compertinent the.

The valve ring 'il is threaded'into the partition member it so as to be adjustable thereinl and to enable said valve ring il to be screwed upwardly against the nap member G9 so that a. portion of the weight of the duplex valve may be carried by the valve ring 'il to thereby cause the flap member t9 to firmly seat itself upon the valve seat 75 to insure a tight closure of the valve.

l I'Ihe hood to is preferably provided with-one or ings i2a whereby the support 'l2 is mounted ou 75 the rod 13 are internally threaded for'the reception of thrust-bearing caps 84 and 85 which by engagement with the opposite ends of the rod 13 iix the duplex valve unit against lateral movement.` A slender shaft 86 is detachably connected with the thrust-bearing cap 85 and extends horizontally in registry with the axis of the rod 1'3 through a suitable stuffing box 81 of the casing section |1 into an externally located gear box 88. The shaft 86 at its outer end carries a bevel gear 89 which meshes with a co-operating bevel gear 98 xed upon one end of a ilexible shaft 9| as shown in Fig. 2; the flexible shaft 9| extends into the casing 48 ofthe totalizing means into connection with a cam 92 journalled interiorlyof said casing 48 on bearing brackets 93. It will be noted with this arrangement that any pivotal movements of the aforesaid duplex valve on the rod 13 will be transmitted through the flexible shaft 9| to the cam 92, the ratio of the bevel gears 89 and 98 being preferably three to one so that angular movements of the cam are three times as great as corresponding movements of the duplex valve about the rod 13. The cam 92 co-operates with a roller 94 rotatably mounted in the lower forked end of the member 65, as shown in Fig. 6; the purpose of this arrangement will appear more clearly from the description hereinafter.

. To facilitate accurate seating of the flap members 68 and 69 on the seats 24 and 16 respectively, particularly in cases in which the pivot rod 13 is not in accurate true alignment, the flap members 68 and 69 are connected with the carrier 10 by means of ball and socket joints; the latter comprise recessed members 95 suitably mounted on the carrier 10 and opposed recess members 96, said recess members 95 and 96 being in engagement with curved projections 91 forming integral parts of the flap members 68 and 69. The latter and the elements comprising the ball and-socket joints are secured in place upon the carrier 10 by bolts 98 and nuts 99 as: clearly shown in Fig. 1. An additional advantage provided with the ball and socket connections of the flap members 68 and 69 with the carrier 10 resides in the fact that said ball and socket connections permit the use, of annular line contact between the flap members 68-69 and the respective seats 24 and 16 thereof and eliminating thel customary surface contact which often causes binding or sticking and prevents the valve from opening under the desired difference in pressure between the inlet and outlet sides of the valve. In the illustrated example the aforesaid line contact is secured by rounding the valve seats 24 and 16 as previously indicated. 'I'he'linev contact referred to has the further advantage that it permits the use of a copper or other suitable metal washer on the flap members 68 and 69 for engagement with the seat-s 24 and 16 instead of the soft rubber washer heretofore generally employed for this purpose; in practice it has been found that the generally utilized soft rubber washers swell vunevenly during use and permit unintentional leakage past the valve, which objection is entirely avoided with the illustrated construction. With the latter in actual service after the hinge or pivot bearings of the duplex valve become slightly worn, the flap members 68 and 69 are capable of automatically adjusting themselves by reason of the ball and socket connections with the carrier 18 to always maintain a uniform and efficient closure through the impact of the flap members 68 and 69 against the seats 24 and 16 when the valve closes.

In practice the operation is as follows: When there is no flow through the meter the flap members 68 and 69 are seated against the seats 24 and 16 by their own weight combined with that of the carrier 18 as indicated by full lines in Fig. l, and all parts ofthe meter are under the same pressure. It is assumed that the meter is set in a pipe line with a suitable control valve in the outlet pipe connected with the outlet I8 of the section |1, and that a flow of water is started through the meter by the opening of this control valve which may be of any conventional form and has not been illustrated; this flow of water developed by the opening of the aforesaid valve through the meter will obviously be through the channels that offer the least resistance. As at this stage the ap members 68 and 69 of the duplex valve are in engagement with the seats 24 and 16 respectively, flow of water through the main line channel I5, 2|, |1 will be prevented and the water at first ow will therefore passv through the chamber 29, the port 31| and bypass channels 22 to the outlet chamber l1*i as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

Whenever the amount of water being used is such as to bring about a predetermined difference in the pressure conditions betweenv the inlet chamber I5I and the outlet chamber |1a of say for instance four pounds to the square inch, the flap members 68 and 69 will be lifted fromthe seats 24 and-16 and a portion of the total flow Will be diverted through the main line channel |5a, 2| a, |111, and the outwardly directed channel 23a. The flow through the channel 23LL is negligible, this channel being intended merely to transmit the pressure head from the chamber |5E to the compartment 8|)a but being sufficiently large to prevent clogging. Increase of flow through-the meter will cause the carrier 18 to pivotally swing on the rod 13 through increasing angular distances until the full open position is reached as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As the valve opening increases, the proportion of total flow which passes through the by-pass channels 22 decreases with the result that with the valve inthe full open position only a small percentage of said total flow will pass through such by-pass channels 22. With the valve full open the proportion of the total flow through the by-pass channels is determined by the ratio of the diameter of the throat-piece 2| to the diameter of the inlet chamber |5 and by the size of the by-pass channels 22; in the preferred construction the diameter of the inlet chamber |5a should preferably be at least twice the diameter of the throat-piece 2| so that an appreciable difference in pressure head will obtain between said inlet chamber l5a and the outlet chamber |11I at the outlet ends 22EL of the by-pass channels-22. 'I'he arrangement of the by-pass channels 22 around the throat-piece 2|, and the terminating ends thereof at said throat-piece 2|, where the pressure drop is greatest, insures a maximum hydraulic emciency and the diversion of a flow through the by-pass channels 22 sufficient to actuate the piston 30 when the ap members 68 and 69 are removed from their respective seats.

Because ordinary castings used in watermeter construction are as a rule not uniform, it is desirable to make the port 8| and the by-pass channels22 of liberal dimensions and to introduce a controllableobstruction to the flow such as is illustrated by the orifice Aplate 32 illustrated in Fig. 1. By substituting'piates t2 having openings of `diilerent dimensions, the pressure-head loss in the lay-'pass channels 22 may be modified andal greater or lesser proportion of the total flow diverted through the 'oy-pass channels 22 when the nap members til and b9 are away from their is through the by-pass channels 22, would, when the duplex valve is in its open position, register only a proportionate part of the iiow passing through the by-pass channels 22. In order therefore that accurate registration oi all flows through the meter may be obtained, two totalizers 5ft and 55 such as shown in the illustrated example are employed. The one totalizer Fifi is xed in position by the set screw 59a and is geared to register the total flow through the meter when the nap members 68 and t@ are seated. The other totalizer 55 is geared to register v the difference between the total flow, when the duplex valve is in the iull open position, and the flow registered by the totalizer blt. The registration of intermediate flows is accomplished by means of the cam @i2 which acts on the roller 556i in dependence upon the pivotal movements of the duplex valve, and by moving the carriage` @it on the rods di shifts the iriction wheel 5i across the 'face of the disc iii in such manner that the sum of the readings or the totalizer's bil and 55 indicates the total i'iow through the meter. As shown in Fig. 6 when the duplex valve is seated, the friction wheel iii is located at the center of the disc it and'is held in this position by means of lsprings bis and 'the roller -iil which bears l against the periphery of the earn @2Q Obviously,

when the friction wheel Eli is located at the center of the disc tilt, the motion oi the latter will not be transmitted to the totalizer b5 but for any given rotative speed of said disc ifi the farther away from the center o the disc that the iriction wheel 5i is shifted, the greater will be the speed of the counter gears and the greater willy be the indication oi' the'totalizer dit, so that any desired percentage registration of total dow can be obtained by providing the cam t2 with suitable outline. v

Fig. l shows typicalv curves for a meter constructed in accordance with the principles ofnthe instant invention. in the diagram illustrated in this figure the curves A and B show the percentage of the total ilow registered by the totalv iuzer tilt. For all rates oi ilow up to thejpoint E,

when the duplex valve begins to open, the entire flow through the'meter is registered by said totalizer bit. From the point E to the point F which is the point at which the duplex valve reaches its iully open position, the totalizerdv 'registers decreasing percentages of the total flow' and from the point lF to the capacity of the meter said totalizer `518 registers uniformly a' given small percentage of said total iiow. .The

ordinate D in the diagram oi Fig. l0 represents the percentage oi the total How registered by the totalizer dit between the points E and F, the varyaooaise ing percentages being obtained by the action of the cam 92 which causes the friction wheel 5l to be moved across the face of the disc di. For all rates of flow from the point F to the capacity of the meter the totalizer 55 registers the uniform percentage dierence between the total flow and the iiow registered by the totalizer d; It will be' seen that for any given rate of iow through the meten-the sum of the readings oi the two totalizers bd and 55 will give the total flow through the meter as represented by the curves A and C in Fig. l2.

in order that the principles which govern `the automatic functioningof the duplex valve of the illustrated meter may be better understood, the following description is added: Y

When there is no ow through the meter, the duplex valve is seated by its own weight which is divided between the two valve seats 2liY and l5. The forces acting on the duplex valve and tending to swing it about the horizontal rod i3 are the forces resulting from the different intensities of water pressure acting on the ap members 53 and b9. .Vihen the duplex valve vis seated, the intensity of the pressure acting on inlet side of the ap member t8 is the same as the intensity of pressure in the chamber i5 and the total pressure acting on the duplex valve is the intensity of pressure multipliedrby the area within the valve contact-circle. The eiect oi the total pressure is the same as a single ,torce applied at the center of the flap member @t acting in a horizontal4 counter-clockwise direction and tending to open the duplex valve by swinging it onits pivot or hinge. The intensity of pressure acting on the outlet side of the ap member 68 is the same as the intensity of pressure in the chamber ill, and the `total pressure acting on the outlet side oi the valve is the intensity of pressure in the chamber il multiplied by the area within the valve contact-circle. pressure is the same as a single torce applied at the center of the ,nap member tu, acting in av horizontal clockwise direction and tending -to close the valve by turninglit on its pivot or. hinge. When there is no flow through the meter, the intensity of pressure in the chamber i5?, which acts on the inlet sfide of the flap member 68, is the same asthe intensity of pressure' in chambers il, which acts on the outlet side oi said ap member tid, and consequently the force on,`

the inlet side on the flap member @d corresponds to the force on the .outlet side thereof, Which'two forces being equal and opposite in direction there- 'fore neutralize each other.. As water passes through the by-pass channels 22, because of 'the 40 The eiect of this total v opening of a control valve on the outlet side of the meter, resistance is produced by fluid iriction and an amount ofl head is used up that is proportional to the velocity of the ow. Consequently, the intensity of the-pressure in the chamber il? becomes less than the intensity of pressure in the chamber L53 and the two opposing forces acting on the hap member E8 are therefore unequal. rl'he difference between the two forces or in other words the resulta-nt force acts' in a counter-clockwise'drection and tends to open' the duplex valve. This resultant force may be determined by multiplying the diierence between the pressures in is and "its, or differential pressure by the area within the contact circle. The moment oi the resultant force with respect to the center of the hinge or rod i3 is the product ci the magnitude of the torce and the perpendicular distance or lever-arm" between the force and said center of the hinge.

'I'he differential pressure acting on the horizontal ilap member 69 is the same as the diiIerential pressure effective on the vertical ap member 68 but the resultant force acts in a clockwise direction tending to close the duplex valve. The moment of the vertical resultant force with respect to the center f the hinge depends upon the area within the contact circle and the length of the lever-arm; it must be made less than the moment of the horizontal force.

The weight of the valve has substantially the same effect in tending to close it as a single vertical force equal to the combined Weight of the fiap members 68 and 69 and the carrier 10 passing through the center of gravity of the mass, and the moment of this force with respect to the center of the hinge is the'product of the magnitude of the force and the perpendicular distance between the force and the center of the hinge.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the horizontal force `acting on the duplex valve tending to open it is opposed by the two vertical forces tending to close it. The relation between the 'several forces acting onk the valve may be expressed by the formula:

PALa=PBLb+WLw In which:

P=Diiference between pressure in chamber i5* and Il, or the dilerential pressure;

A=Area within vertical valve-seat ring;

L=Lever arm a, or perpendicular distance between horizontal line through center of vertical flap and center of valve-hinge;

B=Area within horizontal valve-seat ring; v Lb=Lever arm b, or perpendicular distance be.-

`tween vertical line through center of horizontal flap and center of valve hinge;

W=Combined weight of valve aps and carrier in water;

Lw=Lever arm w, or perpendicular distance be'- tween vertical line passing through center of gravity of valve mass and center of valve hinge.

PAL., PBLb and WLw are the moments of the resultant forces with respect to the center of the valve hinge.

Numerical values for a valve suitable for a meter having a throat-piece of 12 inches internal diameter, and a vertical valve-seat-ring which is 12.5 inches in diameter would be as follows:

P=4 lbs. to the square inch. A=122.7 square inches. L.=12.5 inches. B=117.4 square inches. Lb=11.5 inches.

` W=80 pounds (computed).

Lw=9.19 inches (computed).

A valve having the dimensions and weight given above would remain seated until the dierential pressure, reached four pounds to the square inch when all of the forces mentioned above acting on the valve would be balanced and a slight increase in diilerential pressure would move the valve from its seats.

With the opening of the valve va new force, resulting from the stream of water `iiowing through the main line channel and impinging on the inlet side of the vertical ilap, is added. 'I'his force increases with'I the ow vand swings the 490.8 lbs. would be required.

which it is apparent valve to the full open position as in ordinary l single ap check valves.

It will be seen from the foregoing numerical example that in a check valve with a singlevvertical nap a force equal to the area A of the flap multiplied by the differential pressure P, which equals 490.8 pounds, would be required to hold the valve against its seat until the required diil'erentlal pressure was produced. With lever arms La and Lw of say 12.5 inches, a weight of In valves heretofore constructed this force was obtained by means of counterwelghts, heavy spiral springs, or Lexposure of a portion of the valve seat area to atmospheric pressure.

Under reverse flow or back pressure the higher pressure would be in chamber Ila and the lower in chamber 15"; the force tending to open `the valve would be PBL and the forces tending to close the valve would be PALa and WLw from that the force tending to than the forces tending to close it so that any back flow would instantly close the valve which accordingly wouldremain closed and sealed under all back pressures.

In the form of the meter shown in Fig. 9, the inlet section l5 of the meter casing and the elements associated therewith are substantially the same as those illustrated inFig. 1, and require no further description. In this form, however, the outlet section Hb of the meter casing is constructed with an arched portion 80b curved in an arc having the pivot I3a as a center, said pivot 13'!` corresponding to the rod 'I3 of the form illustrated in Fig. 1. The interior of the arched portion 90b constitutes a compartment 80c corresponding to the compartment 80el of Fig. 1 and communicating with the interior -of a throatpiece 2|b by means of an outwardly directed passage 23h, it being understood that the throatpiece 2lb is provided with by-pass channels 22b corresponding to the by-pass channels 22 of Fig. 1

open the valve is less and likewise establishing communication between the passage 23 of the section I5 and the outlet chamber 11 of the section Hb. The one end of the throat-piece 2|J is,y formed with a valve seat 2l* corresponding tothe valve seat 24 of Fig. 1 and adapted for engagement by a ilap member 68a similar to the nap member 68 and likewise forming part of a duplex valve in the form of the meter under discussion, which duplex valve is mounted to swing about the pivot 13e which may comprise a rod similar to the rod 13 of the form rst described. 'I'he duplex valve further includes a sec- -ond ap member 69 corresponding to the flap member 6l oi Fig. 1 and combined with the flap member 88* by means of a carrier IIJa similar to the carrier 10. The ap member 69a as shown in Fig. 9 co-operates' with a valve seat llin corresponding to the valve seat 16 and likewise formed in a valve ring 'IIn which includes a flange portion screwthreaded into the arched portion 80b so as to be adjustable therein relatively to said flap member 691. In the form now being described the ap member 69* controls the communication between the compartment lillc and a compartment I`|d formed in an extension I'le projecting upwardly from the section Ilb and closed at its upper end by a hood 80d similar to the hood 80 and fixed upon the extension IlB in any convenient manner as by means of bolts 8|,

The operation of the form of meter 'illustrated in Flg..9 is substantially the same as the one previously described and will be apparent from the description hereinbefore.

In operation, when the flow through the meter is just sufficient to create the required difierential pressure to start thevalve in motion, said valve opens suddenly and assumes a position in which the oblique face of the washer Btl is in in the flap member tila which is made of slightly less diameter than the inner diameter of the screwthreaded flange portion of the lvalve ring il as shown in Fig. 9.

TheY weight of the valve is just sucient to close it when the :dow is-reduced or stopped, and since, when the valve swings from its seats the moments about thepivot i3 are substantially the same for any position of-the valve, only a slight Iforce resulting from impingement of the owing Water through the main. line channel, is required to swing the valve to the fully open position.l

in this form of valve .the parts should be so proportioned that the iiow through the by-pass channels 22h or their equivalent will be large enough under a four pound pressure drop between the inlet chamber iband the outlet chamber vllc in Fig. 9 or the equivalent chambers in Fig. l, at the outlets of the by-pass channels 22h in Fig. 9, or 22 in Fig,` l, to produce sufficient flow through said by-pass channels to actuate the meter.

From Vthe foregoing description 'it is clear that'the novel features'set forth enable a meter of the fire-service type to be constructed in Which a single measuring piston serves to accurately measure all ovvs 'passing through the particular meter in question; it is further apparent that the construction of the meter is simple and durable and extremely ecientvand 'accurate in action. it will be understood that while the duplex valve in its various herein is particularly adapted for use in water meters, it is not limited to such use and may be readily adapted for other purposes.

The novel water 4meterpossessing the characteristics setforth herein is particularly suitablel for measuring the supply of Water where only one 'supply line is provided for both hre protection and industrial use -and further is suitable for -use as a master meter for measuring the total supply of Water delivered to atown ory other Water district. When thus used the meter overcomes measurement inaccuracies in existing types of meters occurring in such meters particularly at that point at which the valve begins to open and permitting some Water to flow through the meter Without registration; the novel meter avoids this possibility and guarantees accurate measurements under all conditions particularly in cases Where the Water is used for prolonged periods at rates Where the Valve begins to initially open.

Various changes in the specific forms shown anddescribed may be madev Within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ii claim:

1. ln a water meter, the combinationof a casing provided with connected inlet and outlet chambers constituting an internal main line channel, movable valve means for controlling the flow through said main line channel, by-pass means leading from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, a measuring chamber in said bypass means, operating means in said measuring chamber actuated by the flow therethrougha rotatable friction disc operated by said operating aooaiso forms as shown' means, a totalizer including a friction wheel operated-by said friction disc to register the fiow through said by-pass means, a second movable totalizer including a second friction wheel in engagement with said friction disc, and means controlled by the movements of said valve means to adjust said second totalizer and shift said second friction wheel relatively to said friction disc v means in said measuring chamber actuated by the flow therethrough, a totalizer casing in operative relation to said measuring chamber, a rotatable friction disc in said totalizer casing operatedV by said operating means, guide rods fixed in said totalizer casing, a rst carriage adjustably secured on hsaid guide rods, a rst totalizerv supported upon said hrst carriage and .including a friction wheel operated by said friction disc to register the flow through said by-pass means, a second carriage slidably mounted on said guide rods, a second totalizer supported upon said second carriage and including a second friction Wheel in engagement with said friction disc, and means controlled by the movements of said valve means to slidably adjust said second carriage and' shift said second friction wheel relatively to said friction disc in accordance with the position of said valve means whereby said second totalizer co-operates with said first totalizer to register the total how through said meter.

-3. in a water meter including a casing provided With connected inlet and outlet chambers constituting an internal main line channel, movable valve means for controlling the flow, through said main line channel, and by-pass means leading from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, that improvement which comprises a measuring chamber in said by-pass means, operating means in said measuring chamber actuated by the flow therethrough, a totalizer casing in operative relation to said measuring chamber, a rotatable friction disc in said totalizer casing operated by said operating means, guide rods xed in said totalizer casing, a first vcarriage adjustably mounted on said guide rods, a first totalizer pivotally supported upon ,said first c'arriage and including afriction Wheel operated by said friction disc to register the flow through said by-pass means, a second carriage slidably mounted on said guide rods, a second totalizerpivotally supported upon said second carriage and including v a second friction Wheel in engagement with said friction disc, springs eective on said pivoted totalizers for yieldingly maintaining said friction Wheels in operative contact with said friction disc, and means controlled by the movements of said valve means to slidably adjust said second carriage and-shift said second friction wheel relatively to said friction disc in accordance with the position of said valve means whereby said second totalizer co-operates with said first totalizer to register the total :flow through said meter.

EDWARD NUEBLJNG. 

